To strengthen diagnostic capacity and the health response to Covid-19 in Africa, global development institution IFC, private sector financer Proparco and pathology services company Cerba Lancet Africa have announced a partnership to increase patient access to a range of laboratory tests.
The entities say that expanding access to diagnostics and laboratory testing is a critical part of tackling Covid-19, which has exposed vulnerabilities in health systems across Africa, as well as demonstrated the need for increased testing and laboratory services.
Financial support from IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, and Proparco, a subsidiary of Agence Française de Développement, is slated to reinforce Cerba Lancet Africa’s ability to upgrade its existing diagnostics laboratories in eSwatini, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.
Moreover, the funding will allow Cerba Lancet Africa to add new facilities across Africa, particularly in countries with limited diagnostic services.
The company’s planned expansion will focus on the poorest and most fragile countries in the region.
IFC and Proparco are providing Cerba Lancet Africa with a €15-million debt facility comprising a €7.5-million loan from IFC’s own account and a parallel loan of €7.5-million from Proparco.
The loans will be supported by a first-loss guarantee from the International Development Association’s private sector window blended finance facility.
The project is part of IFC’s and Proparco’s Covid-19 response aimed at supporting developing countries and health stakeholders to fight the coronavirus pandemic and support long-term health and economic recovery.